About PSFNC

Public Schools First NC is a statewide, nonpartisan organization focused solely on public education issues. We collaborate with teachers, parents, business and civic leaders, students and communities across North Carolina in support of an effective public education system that will prepare each child for life.

Strong public schools are critical for growing our economy and maintaining the vitality of our communities. Our goal is to educate and inform North Carolinians about critical issues that impact our schools, our teachers, and students and to engage all stakeholders in supporting a quality public education system.

Read PSFNC’s 12 Steps to Better Public Schools.

Important Education Reports

Children’s Law Clinic, Duke University School of Law: Characteristics of Private Schools – Preliminary Report v2

Scott Imig, Ph.D. & Robert Smith, Ph.D.(UNC-W): Listening to Those on the Front Lines-North Carolina Teachers and Administrators Respond to State Legislative Changes

Economic Policy Institute: A Well-Educated Workforce Is Key to State Prosperity

NC Justice Center: Smart Money – Investing in Student Achievement

Action for Children NC: From Push Out to Lock Up: North Carolina’s Accelerated School-to-Prison Pipeline

CREDO (Stanford University): 2013 National Charter School Study

Annie E. Casey Foundation: Policy Report - The First Eight Years: Giving Kids a Foundation for Lifetime Success

& Kids Count Data Book (state trends)

Education Events Around the State

Public Schools First NC Webinars Available for Replay

Teachers and Career Status: An Overview of Lawsuits

This June, school boards have been mandated to implement a new system of contracts that can affect teachers’ career status. Learn about teacher career status (tenure/due process), what the end of career status means, how the contracts will impact teachers and how teachers and school systems are responding. Ann McColl, General Counsel for the NCAE and teachers Jessica Benton and Lindsay Kosmala Furst present. LINK TO THE WEBINAR

 School Vouchers: Overview & Update on Legal Action

Learn more about the school voucher program in North Carolina and the two lawsuits filed that challenge the constitutionality of the voucher law. Staff of Public Schools First NC, an attorney from the NC Justice Center and a parent who is a plaintiff in the lawsuit filed by the NC Justice Center and the NC Association of Educators provide important information about this initiative. LINK TO THE WEBINAR.

OUR EDUCATE EACH CHILD TOUR WILL CONTINUE IN 2014!

A must-read: What EACH Child Needs to Succeed in School and Life!